Celebrations at uOttawa in 2017

Posted on Tuesday, January 3, 2017

By Johanne Adam

During 2017, events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation will take place across the country. The University of Ottawa campus will be no exception, and a full range of festivities are planned. Here’s a brief overview of what to expect in the coming year.

Telfer School of Management

Ten years ago, the University of Ottawa decided to name its business school in honour of business leader and generous donor Ian Telfer, who had made a major donation to our institution. This year, the Telfer School of Management celebrates this milestone with aTrivia Night for Alumni and Friendson May 25 at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. And since this year also marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the questions will be purely Canadian!

Faculty of Engineering

The third Richard L’Abbé Makerspace Design Challenge will again highlight student talent, but this time, in a really big way by showcasing this year’s theme: steampunk. Whether by engineering drones, turn-key systems or motorized vehicles, participants will need to blend art and technology. The event will take place at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum during Alumni Week.

Faculty of Education

In 2017, the Faculty of Education will be celebrating 50 years as a faculty. Although the official birthday celebrations will take place on May 4 as part of Alumni Week, a series of events are planned over the course of the year. Details will soon be sent out to the entire University community.

Department of History

In 2017, two special events are being planned at the Department of History. On April 29, the Department will mark its 60th anniversary with a celebration and on September 23 it will highlight the 150th anniversary of Confederation with a series of talks under the theme 1867, Canada in the World. Undergraduate students are invited to take part in the Department’s research poster contest, From sign to sign, post your Canada. Students enrolled in a program with a major or minor in history are eligible to receive a $200 award to do research on a topic related to this year’s theme and prepare a poster.

French Immersion

A decade ago, the French Immersion program was created at the University of Ottawa. To mark this anniversary, a panel discussion will be held in Huguette Labelle Hall on February 14, 2017, to explore the benefits and challenges of bilingual education. The panel will be hosted by current students and program alumni, who will describe their French immersion experiences. Details to follow.

Indspire conference

The University of Ottawa will host Soaring: Indigenous Youth Career Conference, organized by Indspire. The event will be held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa on March 23 and 24, 2017. Indspire is a registered charity that hosts annual conferences across Canada as a way of closing the education gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Each conference connects corporate partners and host universities with some 500 to 600 Indigenous students from across Canada.

A commitment to truth and reconciliation

The University of Ottawa is committed to integrating the 13 Principles on Indigenous Education articulated by Universities Canada, with the aim of improving access to higher education for Indigenous students, and helping them succeed. On February 27, the University will sign an agreement with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation during a ceremony that will include a prayer and purification ritual conducted by Algonquin Elder Claudette Commanda. She will then meet with Algonquin families who were expelled from the lands where the University’s buildings now stand. Further details will be sent out shortly.

The Human Rights Research and Education Centre

The Human Rights Research and Education Centre will be hosting a conference, “Realizing Rights 2017: Human Rights and Constitutionalism,” to be held from June 8-10, 2017 at uOttawa. The event seeks to bring together the full range of practitioners, scholars, and advocates working on human rights across Canada and beyond, in order to discuss challenges and opportunities for the effective realization of human rights and related constitutional and governance arrangements. Parallel meetings, sessions, workshops, and social events are also part of the program. Since this conference coincides with Canada’s 150th anniversary, it provides a special opportunity for celebration and reflection.